Fine Art

Fine Art

"Girls Tents" by Florence Whitehead © FNCA 2016Over the years, there have been, and continue to be, a surprising number of creative people at the Assembly. Most of them just can't help making art while they're at camp.

Spread throughout many of the buildings, there are paintings by various New Church artists who have attended the FNCA, from its earliest days to the present, with (what is for us) an extensive gallery of them in the Dole "Anna Rich Painting on the Path"© Nancy F. Little 2013Wing. Artists include: Anne Cary Bradley, Florence Murdoch, Florence Whitehead (painting above of the Girls Tents painted sometime before 1948), Benjamin Tucker Newman, Beryl Foster, Lois Dole, Robin Larsen, Lois McCurdy, Carolyn Judson, Louise Woofenden, Sally Dinsmore, Lynn Zimmerman, Mary Keating, Nancy S. Hinson, Anna Rich (pictured at left painting on the path down to the river; and below is her painting of the Taft Cabin porch), and a host of others.

We have also seen 3-D art, jewelry, professional-grade photography, plays and skits and other performing arts, and a wide assortment of other artistic endeavors by FNCA members at camp.

NEW photos on this page in recent months:
Title or Theme Year Posted
"Quick Draw"                                2024      8/17
"Ava's Sunset Over the Mountains" 2023      8/1

v2020 2021 2023 2024

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

2024

"Quick Draw"

© FNCA 2024New at Stunt Night this year was Quick Draw! 5 campers --- (l. to r.) Amy Cooke, Bob Perry, Serena, Margaret, and Denise Odhner --- each had 60 seconds to draw suggestions from the audience. Here are their imagings of former FNCA Camp Director, Jason Greenwood. ---------------->

2023

"Ava's Sunset Over the Mountains"

Ava (age 8), avidly and without hesitation, drew this during an Evening Activity in which we were prompted to draw how we feel about things. Since it was a child's art, someone (but not either of her parents) taped it to the front of the camper fridge in the Dining Hall.

2021

"Katie's Button Carolyn-style"

Katie Brown created this button of the view from the front lawn drawn Carolyn Judson style.

Tina Wood (l.) checking out an item in Carolyn Judson's (r.) trunk sale. Often, when Carolyn comes to camp, she'll set up some of her art work in the trunk of her car and have a "trunk sale" after lunch.

v2020

"Josie Ellis Painting in the Sales Table Auction"

This circa-1960 Josie Ellis painting of Sparks on the front lawn was donated to the 2020 vFNCA Sales Table auction by Gloria Costello. It was given to Gloria by her parents who told her that one of the children in the painting is her! The painting sold for $225. Josie Ellis was an FNCA member who attended the Boston Church.

"Saco View"

This 9x12 watercolor of the Saco from the edge of the lower lawn was donated to the vFNCA Sales Table Auction by the artist, life-long FNCA member Randall White. It sold for $125.

"Raindrops on a Leaf"

"Mid-Winter Board Meeting Snowflake"

Made by the photographer during the Board's online mid-winter meeting. (He wasn't the only Board member who did this!)

2018

"Polar Bear Club Painting"

The Polar Bear Club was honored this year with this custom-made painting of a polar bear diving off the dock into the river. It now hangs (read "is nailed) in a place of honor above the Polar Bear Club's PBQ chalkboard in the Dining Hall.

"Sand Drawing"

"Love Between Cousins"

Charlotte and Maggie were working on this artwork together.

"Auction Earrings"

Rev. Susannah Currie had the winning bid on a pair of custom-designed tatted earring by Sarah Grams. Here's the design Susannah chose and Sarah made. Beautiful.

"Tie Dye on the Line"

2017

"Charlotte's Pipecleaner Flower Ring"

"Amelia's Paper Flower Ring"

"Ikebana"

"Scott McCurdy's Fish"

This is on the wall next to the bathroom door in the Taft Cabin, where the McCurdy's stayed when their kids were young.

"Rajini's Nature Art"

This is hanging in the Woof Cabin behind the front door. It is signed by Rajini on the back.

"Charlotte and Jane Crafting"

Charlotte Brooks working on a pine cone painting project with Rev. Jane Siebert.

"Serena's School T-Shirt Design"

Serena's t-shirt design at school on the theme of "Summer Fun" was a picture of swimming in the Saco River.

"Buddhist Meditation"

2016

"Marriage Medallion"

This wooden Swedenborg marriage quote medallion was made by the bride for Troy and Sarah Grams's wedding which was at the Assembly two weeks before camp this year.

"Ikebana"

"Liz on the Porch"

"Art Tiles I, II, III"

"Lois Marker Art"

"Woof Cabin Artwork"

Heidi Woofenden colored this fine mosaic and put it on the wall over the counter in the bathroom of the Woof Cabin when she was a Spark in the 1990s. It's been there every since.

"The Colgateville Sawmill"

The architecture on this sawmill is so finely done that it's hard to tell that it's a miniature. Bravo, Colgate! You can see several other Colgateville buildings in the background.

"Piggies!"

And now Colgate has branched out to creating animals to inhabit Colgateville!

"Happy with Her Work"

Jesse White is very happy about learning to make "Apache Door" (i.e., a blanket) in String Figures Class.

"Pine Tree Pastel"

2015

"Creating Art in the Boston Cabin"

"Moses & the Israelites"

One day during Morning Chapel, we were delighted to have an theatrical presentation of the story of Moses & the Israelites and the bitter water made sweet.

"First Sandcastle of the Afternoon"

"Second Sandcastle"

"Sage Advice from Lectures"

"The Artist at Work"

2014

"Caroline Creating"

"Helping with the Race"

Phoebe Crowe help out with the inaugural Dole 3 Miler by making signs for the race.

"Auctioneer Dan Cook Exhibits Some of the
Terrific Art in This Year's Sales Table Auction"

"Anna Rich Painting of the Taft Cabin Porch"

"Anna Rich Painting of Colgateville"

2013

"Some of the Art Donated to the
Sales Table Auction This Year"

Donated art includes framed pictures by several New Church artists, earrings, lacquered nesting paper candy cups, a placque, as well as what appears to be a can of Bondo.

"Rev. Hugh Odner With His New
Florence Whitehead Painting"

Hugh was quite pleased to have the winning bid for this Florence Whitehead painting at the Sales Table Auction this year.

"Nancy Little With Her New
Jon Crowe FNCA Tile Print"

Nancy Little is thrilled to have the winning bid on this Jon Crowe tile print.

"Heidi Woofenden With Her New
Lalla Searle Earrings"

Heidi Woofenden is just so SO happy to have the winning bid on this set of earrings made by Cecilia "Lalla" Searle.

"Gard Perry With His New
Nesting Lacquered Paper Candy Dishes"

Gard Perry proudly displays his new nesting, lacquered, paper candy dishes that he had the winning bid on at this year's Sales Table Auction.

"Colorful Sparks Hands"

"I Crocheted a Cozy for My New Jar"

"The Artist at Work"

Anna Rich

2012

"Rev. McCurdy with Art Displays Created by His Wife, Lois, for His Lecture"

Rev. George McCurdy's wife Lois McCurdy often creates vivid visual aids to enhance George's lectures. Many people find them to be very useful in understanding the concepts Rev. McCurdy is trying to get across.

"Rev. Odhner's Graphic of Spiritual Levels"

Rev. Hugh Odhner, on the other hand, doesn't have any problem creating a fine visual aid on the spot that is also very effective in getting his point across in a visual way.

"The Sparks Class Shadow Play"

The Sparks' religion classes put on a great shadow puppet show for the entire camp's enjoyment. It was a re-enactment of the pathways to the spiritual world. Each of the children decorated and manipulated their own character.

2011

"Paper Bag Puppets Theatre"

"Work in Progress"

Our very own Carolyn Judson with a landscape she's been working on at camp this year.

"McCurdy Lecture Art"

Rev. George McCurdy's wife Lois often makes wonderfully artistic visual aids for his lectures.

"Fairy House"

Built by some Sparks on the side of a tree between Whitehead Hall and the Mack Cabin.

2010

"Emanuel Swedenborg"

This classic image of Emanuel Swedenborg has been hanging on the wall next to the stairs into Whitehead Lecture Hall for decades.

"Carolyn Judson's On-Going Work"

With pen in hand, the artist draws the trees on the embankment as seen from the front porch.

"Rose"

MaryBeth Bernier working on a pencil drawing.

"It's Another Trunk Sale!"

Carolyn Judson's pop up "Trunk Sales" are a big hit whenever she does one. There's always campers who are delighted to be able to buy a fine piece of art directly from the artist.

2009

"Art Postcard"

This undated postcard of a large Carolyn Judson painting was found in the FNCA files this year. It depicts the view downstream from the top edge of the front lawn.

"Anne Cary Bradley Painting
at the Sales Table Auction"

MaryBeth Bernier display a lovely Anne Cary Bradley painting donated to the Sales Table Auction.

"A Spark's Sculpture"

Caleigh Crowe working on a fine art sculpture during the Sparks' morning play time in the Goddard Annex.

"Crocheted Yarn Dyed with Kool-Aid"

Beki Greenwood and Kristina Madjerac dyed this yarn with Kool-Aid during Rest Hour one day. Kristina is making a hat out of it. (She'll make a scarf out of the rest.)

"Look What We Made!"

2008

"Sandcastle"

2007

"Flames Sand Art I, II, III"

2002

"Chalmers Art (undated)"

Over many decades, the Flames put a LOT of graffiti and art on the walls in Chalmers Lodge and in the dorms. It all got painted over in 2002, but we have photos of quite a bit of it. Much of it is names and inside jokes and goofy teen stuff, but here and there was some quality art. You can see two more here and here.

1998

"Chalmers Art 1998"

1997

"Painting on the Dock"

1992

"Chalmers Art 1992"

1987

"Landscape Painting Retreat"

The week before camp, an artist retreat was held, "Landscape Painting in the White Mountains", hosted by FNCA artist Carolyn Judson with 3 hours of instruction each day by Brooklyn artist Jacqueline Lima.

1982

"The Fiery Furnace"

1982 Carol Rienstra production of "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the Fiery Furnace" [Daniel 3] on the front lawn, with the old flagpole holding up part of the set in the center. On the left are Sean Phinney, Becca Cunningham, Shawn Dolley on the throne as King Nebuchadnezzar, and Richard Mayer. Over on the right side are Shelley Dolley, Katie Rienstra (now Kathryn Pruiett), Tonya Emery, Marcy Emery, and Vicki Walter.

1977

"Plywood Playing Card House"

Lee Woofenden and Chuck Leese sitting on top of the house they built playing-card-style out of old sheets of plywood. Who knows how they got up there?!?

[Photo Pages]